Minnesota fires longtime wrestling coach after drug scandal

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Minnesota announced Wednesday that Gophers head wrestling coach J Robinson was fired and that Brandon Eggum will take over as interim head coach for this coming season. Minnesota athletic director Mark Coyle made the announcement in a press conferencee. Watch the entire press conference above.

Robinson was dismissed after an investigation revealed the coach wasn't forthcoming to school officials and made unauthorized promises of amnesty to his athletes, the school said. Robinson became embroiled in the drug scandal after police investigated allegations that more than a dozen wrestlers sold and used the anti-anxiety drug Xanax.

In a letter sent to Robinson on Wednesday, new athletic director Mark Coyle said Robinson directed his wrestlers to turn the drugs in to him and then he got rid of the pills. Coyle also said the coach "disobeyed reasonable directives from me and university to share information" regarding the drug activities within the team.

The Gophers coach for 30 years, Robinson won three NCAA championships.

Coyle said Robinson was fired "for cause," meaning no settlement agreement was reached with Robinson and his representatives. According to an Associated Press story, Robinson's agent and attorney didn't respond to requests for comment.

Here is the full letter Coyle wrote to Robsinon.

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